HONG KONG -- Surface Mount Technology Holdings, a top 50 EMS company, reported a fiscal third-quarter loss of HK$27.4 million ($3.5 million), more than twice its loss of a year ago.

ALEXANDRIA, VA -- The United States PTO Jan. 25 has issued a patent for an electrical PCB connector to Lotes Co. of Taiwan.

GLENVIEW, IL -- Illinois Tool Works' Power Systems and Electronics unit saw revenue climb 22.8% percent in the fourth quarter versus the year-ago period, capping a strong year.

SHENZHEN -- Electronics ODM SinoHub sold approximately 1.15 million mobile phones in 2010, its first full year of operations, and is adding scores of new reference designs to aid customers.

VELDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS -- Last month, H2 Equity Partners announced a deal to acquire Assembléon, putting to rest the lingering speculation over where the placement OEM would end up after longtime parent Philips put the company on the block.

H2 is buying a company that has rebounded strongly -- revenue was up 90% in 2010 -- from the last recession, and comes with its channel and equipment partners (namely, Yamaha) intact. CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY Editor in Chief Mike Buetow spoke this week with Assembléon CEO Andre Papoular about the pending deal and what it means for the company going forward.

DOWNERS GROVE, IL -- Dover Corp.'s Electronic Technologies unit reported fourth-quarter net earnings almost doubled as sales rose 39% to $405 million.

TORONTO -- Celestica reported its fourth-quarter net earnings rose 18% year-over-year, boosted by strength in most of its end-customer markets.

ELKHART, IN -- CTS reported fourth-quarter EMS sales increased 16% year-over-year on demand from the defense and aerospace, industrial, communications and computer markets.

WASHINGTON -- National Association of Manufacturers president and CEO Jay Timmons applauded President Obama’s emphasis on competing in the global marketplace, but said government must pull back on regulation and taxes.

TOYKO -- The first-day crowds at InterNepcon Japan, held at the Tokyo Big Sight convention center last week, were enough to make getting through the aisles difficult. The following two days, navigation was even more demanding. The electronics industry in Japan is back in gear again.

SAN JOSE – Sanmina-SCI Corp. reported fiscal first-quarter revenue of $1.66 billion, up 12.5% year-over-year and 4% sequentially.

PHILADELPHIA – Registration is open for a one-day technical workshop on printed circuit board cleaning to be held March 2 and 3.

“Why Clean Electronic Assemblies,” sponsored by Aqueous Technologies and Zestron, will be held at ACI Technologies’ facility here.

The free workshop will introduce important elements needed for a successful PCB cleaning process and discuss cleaning agent technologies, as well as available equipment. Speakers will review different process control tools and methodologies, as well as various types of flux residues and the challenges they pose. Hands-on demonstrations will complete the one-day seminar.

The workshop will address industry trends, residues and contamination, and board failure mechanisms for cleaning. Speakers will discuss options in cleaning, including cleaning agent technologies, cleaning equipment, and process control and cleanliness analysis.

To register, visit www.regonline.com/WhyClean-3-2 or www.regonline.com/WhyClean-3-3.